Poloxamer-Based Scaffolds for Tissue Engineering Applications: A Review.

Poloxamer is a triblock copolymer with amphiphilicity and reversible thermal responsiveness and has wide application prospects in biomedical applications owing to its multifunctional properties. Poloxamer hydrogels play a crucial role in the field of tissue engineering and have been regarded as injectable scaffolds for loading cells or growth factors (GFs) in the last few years. Hydrogel micelles can maintain the integrity and stability of cells and GFs and form an appropriate vascular network at the application site, thus creating an appropriate microenvironment for cell growth, nerve growth, or bone integration. The injectability and low toxicity of poloxamer hydrogels make them a noninvasive method. In addition, they can also be good candidates for bio-inks, the raw material for three-dimensional (3D) printing. However, the potential of poloxamer hydrogels has not been fully explored owing to the complex biological challenges. In this review, the latest progress and cutting-edge research of poloxamer-based scaffolds in different fields of application such as the bone, vascular, cartilage, skin, nervous system, and organs in tissue engineering and 3D printing are reviewed, and the important roles of poloxamers in tissue engineering scaffolds are discussed in depth.

Fluoride Coatings on Magnesium Alloy Implants.

After several years of research and development, it has been reported that magnesium alloys can be used as degradable metals in some medical device applications. Over the years, fluoride coatings have received increasing research attention for improving the corrosion resistance of magnesium. In this paper, different methods for preparing fluoride coatings and the characteristics of these coatings are reported for the first time. The influence of the preparation conditions of fluoride coatings, including the magnesium substrate, voltage, and electrolyte, on the coatings is discussed. Various properties of magnesium fluoride coatings are also summarized, with an emphasis on corrosion resistance, mechanical properties, and biocompatibility. We screened experiments and papers that planned the application of magnesium fluoride coatings in living organisms. We have selected the literature with the aim of enhancing the performance of in vivo implants for reading and further detailed classification. The authors searched PubMed, SCOPUS, Web of Science, and other databases for 688 relevant papers published between 2005 and 2021, citing 105 of them. The selected time range is the last 16 years. Furthermore, this paper systematically discusses future prospects and challenges related to the application of magnesium fluoride coatings to medical products.

An Overview on Thermosensitive Oral Gel Based on Poloxamer 407.

In this review, we describe the application of thermosensitive hydrogels composed of poloxamer in medicine, especially for oral cavities. Thermosensitive hydrogels remain fluid at room temperature; at body temperature, they become more viscous gels. In this manner, the gelling system can remain localized for considerable durations and control and prolong drug release. The chemical structure of the poloxamer triblock copolymer leads to an amphiphilic aqueous solution and an active surface. Moreover, the poloxamer can gel by forming micelles in an aqueous solution, depending on its critical micelle concentration and critical micelle temperature. Owing to its controlled-release effect, a thermosensitive gel based on poloxamer 407 (P407) is used to deliver drugs with different characteristics. As demonstrated in studies on poloxamer formulations, an increase in gelling viscosity decreases the drug release rate and gel dissolution time to the extent that it prolongs the drug's duration of action in disease treatment. This property is used for drug delivery and different therapeutic applications. Its unique route of administration, for many oral diseases, is advantageous over traditional routes of administration, such as direct application and systemic treatment. In conclusion, thermosensitive gels based on poloxamers are suitable and have great potential for oral disease treatment.

Corrosion Evaluation of Pure Mg Coated by Fluorination in 0.1 M Fluoride Electrolyte.

In the ongoing research on the application of biodegradable materials, surface treatment of is considered to be a relatively effective solution to the excessive degradation rates of Mg alloys. In this study, to further optimize the proven effective surface coatings of fluoride, a low-voltage preparation fluorination method was used to achieve coating effectiveness under safer conditions. Optical observation, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and potential dynamic polarization (PDP) experiments were used for the analysis and evaluation. The coating characteristics of the MgF2 coatings treated in the 10-90 V voltage range, including the structure, chemical conformation, and electrochemical corrosion assessment, were fully defined. The anodic fluoridation results showed that a pore structure of 1-14 µm thickness was formed on the Mg alloy substrate, and the coating was composed of Mg fluoride. The results of immersion corrosion and electrochemical corrosion experiments showed that compared with pure Mg, anodic fluorinated samples below 40 V exhibited better corrosion resistance, the prepared MgF2 coating was more uniform, and the surface mostly exhibited point corrosion. When the voltage reached or exceeded 60 V, the prepared coating exhibited poor corrosion resistance, fracture, and protrusions. After corrosion, it mostly exhibited surface corrosion. The results indicate that idealized coatings can be obtained at relatively low and safe voltage ranges. This finding may enable more economical, environmentally friendly, and safe preparation of coatings.

In Vivo Corrosion Behavior of Biodegradable Magnesium Alloy by MAF Treatment.

Coating treatment plays an irreplaceable role in propelling the clinical application of magnesium alloys. This experiment was designed in order to observe the anticorrosion behavior of magnesium fluoride coating in rats. The MgF2 layer was prepared on the surface of AZ31 magnesium alloy in saturated NH4HF2 solution by microarc fluorination (MAF) at 190 V. The cross-sectional SEM, EDS, and XRD analysis indicated that the alloy surface was covered with MgF2. Meanwhile, SEM observation was used to compare the magnesium alloy samples before and after treatment, and it was found that the samples after coating were flatter and smoother. Two sets of experiments were carried out with the subjects, 6-week-old male rats. So that the untreated AZ31 samples and the microarc fluorinated AZ31 samples could be buried under the muscle layer individually. The volume changes and surface morphology of the corroded samples were monitored dynamically using micro-CT over a 16-week period in vivo. Comparison of results between the two sets of samples presented that the corrosion of the microarc fluoridated samples was much slower than that of the untreated ones. The MAF coating was shown to be effective in controlling the corrosion rate and progression of the magnesium alloy.